Chennai India Tourism
This metropolis is often called the cultural capital of India for its deep-rooted
traditions and long heritage. Chennai is a city younger than its image.
More than any other city in India, it is a true reflection of this countrys
diversity. In a time span of just over 350 years, Chennai has blossomed
into a charming city that has a large heart and is very welcoming.
It is city that encourages all forms of development, both modern technology
and the traditional arts and crafts, and it embraces a series of paradoxes.
It was in 1639 that Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, agents for the English
East India Company, acquired a strip of land on lease from the Vijayanagar
King.
They built the Fort St.George, which remains of the citys important
landmarks and serves as the Government Secretariat today. It was built to
set up a factory that served as a nucleus for British settlements that began
to be formed. Surrounding villages like Triplicane, Purasawalkam, Egmore
and Chetput slowly merged with the new developments, to form Chennapatnam,
as it was known. The city was called Madras till 1996 and then renamed Chennai.
Today this buoyant metropolis is a blend of the old and the new, the traditional
and the modern.
Spread over 200 square kilometres with the Bay of Bengal on the east,
the city is the gateway to the rest of South India. There are verdant
green patches found amidst the high-tech, high-rise buildings.
With a population of around six million, it is Indias fourth largest
city. From before days of Independence to present , the people of Chennai
have played an important role in shaping the countrys political
destiny.
Chennais Pride Chennais newest pride is the Tidel Park, the
home for the Information Technology Industry. It is spread over 1.28 million
sq.ft. of built up area. The Tidel Park is an architectural marvel and houses
several large national and international software companies in its premises.The
City of Grace And Peace.
Places of Tourist Interest
Fort St. George
Fort st.George occupies pride of place and prominence in Chennai. This bastion
derived its name form St. George, the patron saint of England. The State
Legislature and the Secretariat are located inside this fort . The St. Marys
Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India built in 1680 is situated here.
The tombstones in its courtyard are some of the oldest British tombstones
in India. The weddings of Robert Clive and Governor Elihu Yale, who later
founded the famous Yale University in the U.S.A were solemnised in this
ancient prayerhouse.
The Marina Beach
the pride of Chennai is the second longest beach in the world and has a
wide sandy shore. Situated on the beach, are the Samadhis or memorials dedicated
to C.N.Annadurai and M.G.Ramachandran, both former Chief Ministers of the
state. They attract thousands of visitors everyday. Some of the most beautiful
buildings in Chennai such as the University of Madras, the Senate House,
Chepauk Palace, Presidency College and the Ice House are located on the
beach drive.
Santhome Cathedral Basilica
Santhome at the southern end of the Marina gets its name from St.Thomas,
the apostle of Jesus who is believed to have come to India sometime during
52 A.D. It is believed he was killed on St. Thomas Mount just outside the
city in 78 AD and his remains interred in Santhome beach where a church
was later built.
Several years later, another church was built further inland and his
mortal remains were transferred here. Chennais newest pride is the
Tidel Park, the home for the Information Technology Industry. It is spread
over 1.28 million sq.ft. of built up area. The Tidel Park is an architectural
marvel and houses several large national and international software companies
in its premises.
Vivekananda House & Museum
The state government had leased this building Sri Ramakrishna Mission. It
is an imposing structure on the Marina along the South Beach Road. It was
constructed in 1842 to store ice blocks imported from the USA by the Tudor
Ice Company and the business continued until 1874, when the ice began to
be produced locally. This is why it is called Ice House. Later Bilagiri
Iyengar purchased this building in 1885 and called it "Castle Kernon."
Chennai India Tourism, South India Tourism Reservation Form